FamilyNet staff reduction among steps toward financial viability

(BP) - The North American Mission Board has announced a staff reduction and other measures to strengthen the financial viability of its FamilyNet broadcasting network.

According to Randy Singer, special assistant to the president of NAMB, 19 FamilyNet staff members at the network's studios in Fort Worth, Texas, were notified Sept. 9 that their positions have been eliminated. Reductions also are being made in the network's use of freelance and temporary staff.

Responsibilities of the affected positions will be re-assigned to remaining staff, transferred to NAMB staff in Alpharetta or eliminated altogether. Affected staff will be provided with a severance package based on prior responsibilities and length of service, Singer said.

NAMB announced a reorganization of the network nearly two years ago intended to allow FamilyNet to be more independent of NAMB's organizational structure and more accountable for its own success. Board officials committed to a $9 million subsidy of the broadcasting system toward the network being self-sustaining within three years.

"Under [FamilyNet chief executive officer] Bob Sutton's dedicated leadership, the FamilyNet staff has made dramatic advances this past year in programming and increasing cable subscribing homes, but the projected advertising revenues have not kept up with expenses," Singer said.